This morning 13CABS launched a scaremongering campaign to reject recommendations by the Taxi Inquiry. They are exploiting the threat of rape and sexual assaults on women to pursue their own profit-driven agenda.

There is such a shortage of taxi services in Victoria that the Taxi Inquiry suggested allowing more cab companies to offer pre-booked services. But 13CABS say that this will lead to an increase in illegal operators and in turn, sexual assaults and indecent conduct by taxi drivers. Their “concern” is, in my eyes, transparent.

As a hospitality worker I would regularly finish work at 2am. Standing in line at a cab-rank with drunken louts waiting sometimes for periods in excess of 90 minutes, left me feeling very unsafe. I appreciate the sense of vulnerability that women and men feel -- but I think the threat lies more on the streets.

It is clear that 13CABS are attempting to reduce competition, allowing them to increase prices and avoid meeting the community’s expectations of standards of service. I am troubled by their obvious exploitation of the genuine concern for women’s safety.

A threat does exist, but it is my belief that this threat would be best met and extinguished by allowing people more options, that is, not only more cabs but safer options such as the availability of pre-booked, chauffeur-liketransport.

Please sign my petition now and tell 13CABS to stop playing on women's fear of sexual assault to protect their profits. Their motives are simply, greedy.

I am not saying that there should be an unregulated system, where any Tom, Dick or Harry could drive up along side you in an unmarked car, offer you a lift and charge you some arbitrary amount. The Taxi Inquiry have sensibly suggested a registered system of pre-booked cabs. I believe that this is not only a safe option, but the safest option.

Do not allow 13CABS to stifle the introduction of these safer options. It is your safety that is inevitably at risk. Avoid wandering the streets trying to hail a cab or waiting, uncomfortably in queues for taxis late at night. It is there that you are most at risk.

----------------Stop playing on women's fear of rape to protect your profits

I have seen your recently released disgusting ad campaign that is using rape and women's fear of sexual assaults to squash recommendations by the Taxi Inquiry.

The Taxi Inquiry has recommended opening up competition in the Taxi industry by allowing registered mini-cabs to start operating in Victoria which I think is a reasonable response to cab shortages.

I find your ads incredibly insulting. If 13CABS want to object to the recommendation that's fine -- but it's unacceptable for you to be playing on women's fear of rape just to protect profits.

As a member of the community I appreciate that there is a sense of vulnerability that women and men, drunk or otherwise, have when they go to catch a cab. In my opinion, however, the threat lies more prominently on the streets. Standing in line at a cab-rank with drunken louts sometimes late at night is what is unsafe.

It is clear that you are attempting to reduce competition, so you can increase prices and avoid meeting the community’s expectations of standards of service. I am troubled by your obvious and surreptitious exploitation of the genuine concern for women’s safety.